“The state had offered land for the purpose with the Chief Minister proposing its location to be at the medical city or education city development hub,” he told reporters at a press conference after officiating the RM9mil Perkeso office building at MITC here.

Once established, he said the centre would not only cater to its members but also for those seeking rehabilitative treatment.

However, he said that the proposal was still at the conceptual stage with the ministry still needing to work out the finer details such as allocation and design.

On a separate issue, Subra­ma­niam said that 2.1 million members aged 35 years old and above will be eligible to undergo free medical examination worth RM80 at 3,000 panel clinics nationwide.

He said the programme would start within the next two months and is aimed at helping members undergo screening for lifestyle diseases.

He said the proactive move is to prevent worsening health conditions of members in the longer term, especially those with high blood pressure and diabetes.

Meanwhile, he said that Perkeso had paid out RM1 bil last year for various payments and programmes, of which RM600 mil went for pension payments.